made in China
This shows one side of a carved ivory card case made in China in the 19th century. Such cases were popular trade items.
The case is elaborately carved in high relief with figures in a continuing landscape containing pavilions and a boat. The figures are possibly immortals.
From the early 18th century until around 1880 Canton was a major producer of ivory artefacts such as ladies' fans, workboxes, snuffboxes and card cases. The densely-packed high relief carving derives from lacquer and jade carvings.
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